Compacting and forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus is provided including a base to which is connected an upright A-frame. Pivotally connected to the base by four corner posts is a forming frame disposed generally parallel to the base frame and pivotal on its end posts between upright and collapsed positions by fluid operated cylinders connected between the Aframe and the forming frame. Articles to be compacted or formed are placed on the base, and pivoted movement of the forming frame on its posts provide the compacting or forming forces; such forces acting simultaneously in linear and compacting directions. A loading boom is supported on the forward end of the forming frame for moving articles to the apparatus. The front end of the base frame has anchor means which serve to support articles for pretreatment prior to placing them in the apparatus.

limited ties tet Forest [451 Mar. 28, 11972 Sheldon R. Forest, 566 Mill Road, Lewiston, Idaho 83501 [22] Filed: Aug. 25, 1969 [21] App1.No.: 852,588

[72] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. ..100/91, 29/200 D, 100/215,

100/233, 100/269 R, 100/295, l0O/D1G. 1 [51] Int. Cl ..B30b 15/30 [58] Field of Search ..29/200 D; 100/70, 215, 90,

100/91, 226, 228, 233, 236, 264, 295, DIG. l, DIG. 2; 254/8, 124; 83/643; 241/263, 264, 268; 69/46 3,077,827 2/1963 Bunke et al ....100/215 3,103,163 9/1963 Gates ....100/215 X 3,266,413 8/1966 Sharp et a1. ..100/218 X Findlay ..100/218 X Swint et al. ..100/233 X 3,374,730 3/1968 Cain ..100/233 3,404,622 10/1968 Flanagan ..100/233 X 3,413,914 12/1968 Ballard ..100/233 X 3,517,608 6/1970 Tezuka ..100/215 X Primary ExaminerBilly J. Wilhite Att0rney-Eugene M. Eckelman [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus is provided including a base to which is connected an upright A-frame. Pivotally connected to the base by four corner posts is a forming frame disposed generally parallel to the base frame and pivotal on its end posts between upright and collapsed positions by fluid operated cylinders connected between the A-frame and the forming frame. Articles to be compacted or formed are placed on the base, and pivoted movement of the forming frame on its posts provide the compacting or forming forces; such forces acting simultaneously in linear and compacting directions. A loading boom is supported on the forward end of the forming frame for moving articles to the apparatus. The front end of the base frame has anchor means which serve to support articles for pretreatment prior to placing them in the apparatus.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED MAR 2 8 I912 SHEET 1 [IF 2 PATENTEDMAR28 I972 3,651,754

SHELDON R. FOREST M an INVENTOR.

COMPACTING AND FORMING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to compacting and forming apparatus.

The disposal of old automobiles has developed into a major problem because of the room they take up for storage and also because such automobiles cannot be torn down or dismantled economically. Some automobiles have heretofore been crushed by massive machinery, but it has not been found feasible to transport discarded vehicles, due to their bulkiness, to such a crushing machine and certainly the crushing machine cannot be transported to the automobiles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present apparatus and process was intended to overcome disadvantages enumerated above, although it will be apparent hereinafter that such apparatus and process are not limited to the compacting of discarded automobiles, since the principle thereof can be used in many other instances which require compacting forces.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide apparatus employing means which has a combined linear and compacting action, thus making it especially adaptable for compacting framed articles such as automobiles, because it simultaneously lays back and compacts frame elements of the automobiles. Such structure by its action is capable of heavy duty work without requiring massive structure or power.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the type described deriving its novel action by a pivoting forming frame which in its operation has a simultaneous combined linear and compacting movement, the forming frame deriving its power from extendable means connected between a stationary frame member and the forming frame.

Additional objects of the present invention are to provide apparatus of the type described having conveyor means adapted to move articles to be operated upon into the apparatus; to provide anchor means at its front end serving to hook articles thereunder for pretreatment; and to provide powered loading mechanism on the forming frame for moving articles to the apparatus.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of apparatus embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the forming frame taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, portions of the apparatus in this view being omitted for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the base taken on the line 3-3 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the front end of the apparatus, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view, reduced in size, illustrating pretreatment of an article to be compacted; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating operating concepts of the present apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring in particular to the drawings, the device comprises generally a base 10 and a forming frame 12. The base 10 is best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 and comprises longitudinal side frame members 14, end frame members 116, and reinforcing intermediate frame members 18. Frame members 18 form an open webbing and serve as the floor of the base 10. Base 10 may be supported on feet 20, FIG. 1, or if desired such base may be mounted on wheels, not shown, for transportation from place to place.

Secured to opposite sides of the base 10 are A-frames 22 interconnected laterally by a top beam 24, FIGS. I and 4. Each A-frame comprises a front leg 26 and a rear leg 28, these legs being pivotally interconnected to each other at the top by connections 29 and having a pivotal pin connection 30 to the base at the bottom, such pin connections being located in lateral frame extensions 32, best seen in FIG. 5.

Pivotally connected to the bottom side of top beam 24 by connections 34 is a pair of fluid operated cylinders 36, FIGS. 1 and 4. The piston rods 38 of the cylinders 36 are connected to a reinforcing frame 40 on the forming frame 12 by pivot connections 41. The frame 12 comprises in general side frame members 42, end frame members 44, and intermediate reinforcing frame members 46. Frame members 46 form a webbing in the interior portion of the forming frame to serve as engaging means for articles to be compacted.

Forming frame 12 has four corner posts 48. The upper ends of these posts have pivot connections 50, FIGS. 1 and 5, with the forming frame 12, and for this purpose the forming frame has lateral extensions 52 for providing the pivot connection. The bottom ends of the front posts 48 have pivot connections 54 with the base 10 and the bottom ends of the rear posts 48 are incorporated in the pivot connections 30, as seen in FIG. 5. In a preferred construction, the posts 48 lie flat against the outer sides of the base frame members 14 as well as the forming frame members 42 to provide a laterally stable structure. In addition, the side frame members 42 of the forming frame 12 have lateral sliding engagement against the inner facing sides of the A -frame legs 26 to provide further lateral stabilization of the forming frame upon longitudinal movement on its posts 48. The front post connections 54 are disposed rearwardly of the front of the base 10 and the forming frame 12, being of about the same length as the base projects rearwardly beyond the base. The forming frame when pivoted forwardly to lie close to the base will thus be substantially directly over the base.

A loading boom 56 is supported on a platform 58 mounted on the forward end of forming frame 12. Preferably the platform 58 is rotatable so that the boom can be swung from side to side. Such boom has swivel grapple means 60 or other structure capable of picking up articles from an adjacent area for movement into a forward area of the present apparatus. Power drive means 62 for operating the boom 56, as well as for operating the cylinders 36 and other structure to be described, is supported on the rearward portion of forming frame 12.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, the base 10 is provided with a longitudinal chain conveyor 64 operating over end sprockets 66 one of which is driven by a fluid operated motor 68 powered by drive means 62. Chain conveyor 64 carries one or more hooks 70 arranged for connection to an article whereby upon backing the hook to the forward portion of the frame and connecting it to an article such as an auto body, the latter can be drawn into the machine in a position shown in phantom lines in FIG. l for compacting by the present apparatus.

Disposed at the forward end of the base 10 is a pair of arms 72 which are adapted for use in anchoring an article for pretreatment, to be described in greater detail hereinafter. In a preferred arrangement, the arms 72 are mounted in sockets 74 in the front end frame members 16. Such sprocket mounting provides easy removal when desired merely by removing them forwardly from the sockets.

According to the invention, the present apparatus operates effectively for one purpose in compacting articles such as automobile bodies. In the sequence of operations, the grapple 60 hooks onto an automobile body A to bring it from an adjacent area to a forward position with relation to the present apparatus. Preferably, the motors and transmissions of automobiles are removed prior to compacting by the present apparatus, and for this purpose the boom 56 positions the automobile with the forward end thereof hooked under the arms 72 as seen in FIG. 6. A chain 76 is then connected to the motor and upon upward pulling force by the boom, the motor and transmission are ripped out in one step.

Thereupon, the boom lifts the automobile body to the forward end of the present apparatus just behind the arms 72 and the automobile body is then hooked to the conveyor 64 by means of a hook 70 for movement into a central position as shown in FIG. 1.

For moving the forming frame 12 in a compacting operation, the fluid operated cylinders 36 are actuated. As the piston rods 38 of these cylinders extend, the forming frame 12 is pivoted forwardly on its posts 48 in a parallelogram motion. More particularly, as the forming frame 12 travels toward the base by pivotal movement on its posts 48, it remains parallel with the base 10. In a crushing movement of the forming frame, namely, from the full line position of FIG. 1 to the broken line position in this same view, the horizontal frame portion thereof not only moves longitudinally but it also moves closer to the base in a compacting relation. Since the main portion of the forming frame 12 operates on pivoted corner posts its initial travel will be greater in a longitudinal direction than in its down direction. Such initial movement exerts an oblique crushing force against the automobile with very little compacting force, thus serving at first to lay the door posts and the like down rather than to compress them. Such process requires minimum power and minimum strength apparatus for crushing automobiles as compared with a process which has straight down crushing, since an oblique tearing action is used. As the forming frame 12 approaches the base the longitudinal travel thereof, with relation to its downward travel, is lessened, whereby almost straight down compacting forces are applied to the automobile at the lower stages of travel of the forming frame 12. The action of the forming frame is illustrated best in FIG. 7 wherein the forming frame is shown in phantom lines in about a halfway down position. In moving from its full up position to the phantom line position, it is apparent that it has moved considerably forward in comparison to its downward movement, and from the phantom line position to its down position it is apparent that the longitudinal movement is lessened and its compacting movement is increased. The relationship oflongitudinal movement between initial and final travel of the forming frame is illustrated by the dimensions a and bin FIG. 7, respectively.

Another factor contributing to the efficient usage of the present machine is that the A-frame 22 is arranged such that when the principal force is applied, namely, at the time that the forming frame is almost down for final compacting, the fluid operated cylinders 36 are substantially parallel with the front A-frame legs 26, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1. The primary tensile force is thus borne by the front A-frame legs 26.

It is to be understood that although the present apparatus has been illustrated for compacting automobiles, it can be used for crushing other articles or similarly it can be used for the formation of articles which require compacting or forming. The particular action of combined longitudinal or linear and compacting forces allows maximum compacting or forming forces with minimum structure. If it is desired to reduce the overall height of the apparatus, such as for shipment or storage, the pin connections of either the front or back A- frame legs can be disconnected and the A-frame laid down, it

being remembered that the connections 29 and 30 are pivotal.

These connections of course provide a rigid A-frame when assembled. To prevent the automobile from sliding in the apparatus during the compacting operation, the base 10 and forming frame 12 have cross ribs 78 such as angle irons on their opposed article engaging portions.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A compacting apparatus comprising a. a base having front, rear and side portions and being arranged to support articles to be compacted in the area between the side portions,

b. a forming frame disposed above said base in substantially parallel relation,

c. upright link means at the sides of the base connecting said forming frame to said base in its parallel position thereto and forming an end opening passageway between the base and forming frame for receiving articles to be compacted,

(1. support means extending from said base to a position above said frame and extendable power means operably connected between said support means at said position and said forming frame for driving the forming frame toward said base,

e. said link means causing said forming frame to operate arcuately in a combined longitudinal and spacing movement relative to said base upon driving movement of said forming frame by said extendable power means.

. said forming frame in an initial drive movement thereof toward the base moving a greater distance forward in relation to the distance moved toward the base to initially provide a maximum twisting force and a minimum compacting force to the article and in a subsequent movement disposed closer to the base said frame moving a greater distance toward the base in relation to its forward movement to provide a maximum compacting force and a minimum twisting force.

2. The compacting apparatus of claim 1 including a. an upright support secured to said base and having a projecting portion disposed on the far side of the forming frame relative to the base,

b. said extendable power means being connected between said projecting portion of said upright support and said forming frame for driving the latter toward said base.

3. The compacting apparatus of claim 2 wherein said upright support comprises a frame structure having a frame member extending substantially in a direction of extension of said power means whereby to bear extending operative forces of said power means.

4. The compacting apparatus of claim 1 including boom means, and support means on said forming frame for support ing said boom means for rotation on a vertical axis for moving articles to said apparatus.

5. The compacting apparatus of claim 1 including outwardly extending projections on said base spaced above the ground arranged to hook an article thereunder for partial disassembly by exerting an upward pull on the article from an outside force. 

1. A compacting apparatus comprising a. a base having front, rear and side portions and being arranged to support articles to be compacted in the area between the side portions, b. a forming frame disposed above said base in substantially parallel relation, c. upright link means at the sides of the base connecting said forming frame to said base in its parallel position thereto and forming an end opening passageway between the base and forming frame for receiving articles to be compacted, d. support means extending from said base to a position above said frame and extendable power means operably connected between said support means at said position and said forming frame for driving the forming frame toward said base, e. said link means causing said forming frame to operate arcuately in a combined longitudinal and spacing movement relative to said base upon driving movement of said forming frame by said extendable power means. f. said forming frame in an initial drive movement thereof toward the base moving a greater distance forward in relation to the distance moved toward the base to initially provide a maximum twisting force and a minimum compacting force to the article and in a subsequent movement disposed closer to the base said frame moving a greater distance toward the base in relation to its forward movement to provide a maximum compacting force and a minimum twisting force.
 2. The compacting apparatus of claim 1 including a. an upright support secured to said base and having a projecting portion disposed on the far side of the forming frame relative to the base, b. said extendable power means being connected between said projecting portion of said upright support and said forming frame for driving the latter toward said base.
 3. The compacting apparatus of claim 2 wherein said upright support comprises a frame structure having a frame member extending substantially in a direction of extension of said power means whereby to bear extending operative forces of said power means.
 4. The compacting apparatus of claim 1 including boom means, and support means on said forming frame for supporting said boom means for rotatioN on a vertical axis for moving articles to said apparatus.
 5. The compacting apparatus of claim 1 including outwardly extending projections on said base spaced above the ground arranged to hook an article thereunder for partial disassembly by exerting an upward pull on the article from an outside force. 